Spring Break Snapshots

Korean Elementary Schools get one week off between semesters, for their equivalent of spring break. So this past week one of my best friends  (who is currently living in Japan) came to Korea to visit. Together we visited Seoul and Busan, the two major cities in the country. Below are various pictures from our trip! Enjoy!

We started our adventures in Seoul, where we met some other friends from the states and explored the city. 

After Seoul we took a 5 hour bus trip to the bottom of the peninsula, to Busan, the other major city of Korea. This is Gamcheon Cultural Village. Originally a refugee settlement, during the Korean war, it is now a popular destination for Koreans and tourists alike. We stayed in Busan with another friend from Roanoke College, who is also currently working in South Korea. What a small world! 

On our way to meet our friend we stopped for delicious strawberries! I must say, Korean fruit is some of the sweetest, most delicious I have ever had! 

Our second day in Busan was spent exploring Haedong Temple, built in 1376 during the Goryeo Dynasty.

This dragon statue, soaring on a cloud, fascinated me! 

The temple is situated immediately on the coast, and looks out over the ocean. Gorgeous! 

The last stop of our trip took us back to Cheongju, my city, where our host family showed us around town. 

Sang Dang Fortress, built during the Joseon dynasty overlooks the mountains and city of Cheongju. 

We hiked for an hour with my host family, after which we ate delicious food and celebrated Elsa's last day in Korea. The sunset was beautiful.

 In short, spring break was a lovely respite from my regular routine. The new semester starts tomorrow, and except for two or three holidays, I will not have a break from teaching until my contract ends in July. This break has been restful and refreshing and it was wonderful to explore Korea with my friend. I am truly thankful for friendships that span countries and years! 

February Limbo

In Korean schools February is an odd month, because technically kids and teachers go to school, to finish the semester, which ends the last week of February. However, most of the kids already finished their textbooks, so we teachers don't have anything to teach.

My school requires me to come in to work every day, but I don't actually have any kids to teach, since we finished the English textbook in December. This is very odd to me, and I offered to teach some supplemental lessons, but the school refused. Instead my co-teachers are watching movies with the students. I am honestly a little confused and frustrated with a system that doesn't make the most out of the presence of a native speaker. Moreover, if they really don't need me....can I go home? I'd love to travel some more within Korea, but since I need to show up to work every day (even though I literally just sit at my desk reading for 8 hours), I am stuck in Cheongju until the last week of February.

Regardless of my frustrations with the school system, I am enjoying my months in Korea, as they quickly fly by. I am happy to report that every month living with my host family is easier and more enjoyable, as we learn about each other, and grow in language skills. My host sisters are a handful, but they make me laugh, and I am very grateful for that!

Yesterday, I accompanied my host family to a local concert hall, where the two youngest girls (aged 4 and 6) were performing in their kindergarten talent show. I don't know what I expected, but it definitely wasn't the elaborate, 3 hour-long program I saw. While I was impressed with the amount of work the kids put into their performances, and the professionalism with which the teachers, TV crew and moderator conducted those 3 hours, I couldn't help thinking if the emphasis on perfection took the joy out of it for the children.

My host sisters' kindergarten talent show. This was the stage. The audience was packed with parents and grandparents. The second from the left is my youngest host sister, who is 4.
 

Olafur Eliasson's exhibition at the Leeum Samsung Museum of Modern Art

 The beginning of February I spent two days in Seoul on a solo-trip. I wanted to get away and be on my own, so I spent two days visiting museums and city sights. Below are some pictures.

My favorite installation in the exhibit was this curtain of water and light.

Visiting the Iwha Mural Village in Seoul, the houses in this area are all painted with beautiful murals